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The Bellwether Sheep of the Mosquito Fleet

by Jon Pontrello

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about

A musical tribute for the 120th Anniversary of the sinking of the S.S. Clallam

lyrics

back in the day before synthetic wool
and the roads that make up the I-5 corridor
if you want to travel from place to place
catch a ferry on the puget sound shore

so buy a ticket and find your seat
on the newest addition to the mosquito fleet
join the company of women, children and men
cattle, chicken and sheep

on the morning of January 8th, 1904
the SS Clallam down at the Seattle dock
business as usual as they loaded up
passengers, cargo and livestock

but there was a hitch, and movement began to stall
for some reason the sheep would not move at all
the bellwether sheep stood silently still
and nothing could alter his will

so the captain said, "Gather the rest,
leave the stubborn one behind."
All aboard the SS Clallam
the children waved goodbye, as the crew cast off its line

full steam ahead to Victoria
a quick stop in Port Townsend town
before entering the open waters of the strait
leave behind puget sound
____

there was a storm in the distance
not unlike the day before
a trip just like any other
with its risk and reward

as the gales blow came closer
waves crashed upon the hull
a port window was smashed open
drenching the sheep and their wool

the water within was rising
till it reached the boiler room's flame
now with no steam to stand between
a force that cannot be tamed

in the chaos and confusion
when the storm was at its worst
they lowered the lifeboats into the water
women and children first
____

those lifeboats all became caskets
from wave to wave they were thrown
the men on the deck all looked onward
as the captain's heart to stone
and that stone began to grow heavy
causing the steamship to list
in the midnight of that winter
the Clallam ceased to exist
____

there may be a seer among us
whose actions we don't understand
an omen that throws into question
all the things you had planned
some sheep are meant to follow
and some are meant to lead
so when that bell starts ringing
yea, you know that you better take heed
_____
_____

credits

released January 8, 2024
Mixed and Mastered by Matt Stegner
Art and Design by Kim Berkley
Photo of Billy 'the Bellwether Sheep' from the Seattle Post-Intelligencer

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Jon Pontrello Seattle, Washington

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